Players Have Shown Desire - Farina

Sydney FC Head Coach Frank Farina believes his players have shown their desire to play for the club after he criticised their fighting spirit in the 2-1 defeat to the Newcastle Jets.

Sydney FC Head Coach Frank Farina believes his players have shown their desire to play for the club after he criticised their fighting spirit in the 2-1 defeat to the Newcastle Jets.

The squad has trained every day over the Christmas period in preparation for tonight-s match against the Central Coast Mariners, and Farina says his comments after last Saturday-s game were justified.

“I think the reaction was deserved and we-ve got to get to the standard I expect our players to be both playing and training,” said the former Socceroos boss.

“They-ve trained hard. It-s not nice as a player to cop a verbal lashing but when it is deserved it-ll happen and it was deserved last week and the week before.”

Sydney face up to the table topping Mariners at Allianz Stadium tonight and Farina thinks there will be a difference in the players.

“They‘re professional footballers and they-ve got to react in the right way. I think they have done this week and hopefully that-ll show in the game

“They [Mariners] are top of the league and deservedly so, but we-ve stick to what we want to do and anything can happen.”

Sydney FC's next home game should be a Christmas Cracker. Another derby against local rivals Central Coast Mariners tonight. Get your tickets now from Ticketek and enjoy some sizzling A-League Summer Football!!!